Spring structure



Aug. 1, 1944. I v AsARQ 2,354,728

SPRING STRUCTURE Filed June 28, 1941 III IN VENTOR.

A T RNEYS.

Patented Aug. 1, 1944 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRING STRUCTURE VitoAsaro, Detroit, Mich, assignor to L. A. Young Spring and WireCorporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application June28, 1941, Serial No. 400,218

' 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in spring structures.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved spring or cushion structure in which theupholstery ma be very quickly applied to the spring unit by unskilledworkmen and at the same time is very securely retained.

Second, to provide a structure having these advantages in which worn ordamaged upholstery may be removed if desired for the purpose ofpermitting the application of new upholstery.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary elevation of a struc ture embodying the featuresof my invention partially in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary inside perspective view showingstructural details and details of the means for securing the upholsteryto the frame,

Fig. 3 is an inside perspective view of the cushion base or borderframe.

Fig. 4-. is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one of the stepsof applying a preferred form of upholstery clamping member or one of thesteps of securing the upholstery.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to that of Fig. 4showing another step of securing the upholstery.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a desirable form of upholstery securingmember.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of securing member.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a still further modification of theclamping or securing memher.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises body springs l andan upholstery covering 2 having a skirt portion 3, The base or borderframe is formed of sheet metal suitably conformed to provide anupstanding side or facing member 4 having an inturned flange 5 at thetop thereof which adds to the rigidity of the structure and alsoprovides a rounded upper edge 6.

This border frame is provided with an inwardly extending bottom portion1 of substantial width which is reversely folded upon itself andconformed to provide an inwardly facing channel 8. The bottom portion 9of this channel is in supported engagement with the bottom 1 of theframe while the web portion [0 of the channel is in supported engagementwith the inner side or upright side portion 4 of the frame.

The top or free flange I l is downwardly curved thereby providing achannel having a mouth of less width than the greatest internaldimension of the channel which is preferably vertical, as shown.

The upholstery skirt is wrapped around the bottom I and is disposedwithin the channel preferably so that a portion thereof, as indicated ati2, projects from the channel. This insures that the upholstery isdisposed so as to be effectively engaged by the retaining meanstherefor.

This retaining means comprises the upholstery clamping members l3,which, it will be noted in their engaged position as shown in Fig. 2,are flat, their width being such that they wedgingly engage theupholstery and wedge it into the largest dimension portion of thechannel, effectively wedgingly or clampingly retaining the upholstery.There are a plurality of these clips arranged in suitably spacedrelation to retain the upholstery without permitting substantialdistortion thereof between the members l3.

The members l3 are, in the now preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 2, inthe form of collapsible or deformable tubes l4. They may,

.however, be split and have a flattened section,

as is the case with the member [5 shown in Fig. '7, or a corrugatedsection as the member I 6 in Fig. 8. These members are forced into thechannel and deformed therein which results in their being expanded inone plane to wedgingly clamp the upholstery. They are non-resilient;

, that is, they are not resilient in any material sense so far as theirclamping wedging function is concerned.

In Fig. 4 I illustrate a plier-like tool I! having one J'aw I8 adaptedto supportingly engage the outer side of the upholstery, the other jawit being. hook-shaped and provided with a face for engagement with theclamping members. After the upholstery is disposed over the channel andpreferably partially disposed therein as indicated at 25 in Fig. 4, theretaining members are positioned in the mouth of the channel and forcedinto the channel and deformed therein into the position shown at IS. Themembers and 25 shown in Figsf'l and 8 respectively may also be deformedand expanded in one plane within the channel to wedgingly clamp theupholstery. It should be understood, however, that the members may beinitially formed in approximately the shape shown in Figs. 1 and 2 andforced and expanded into the channel, the channel flange springing andyielding enough to make this operation possible. The upholstery whenthus secured is very effectively retained, at the same time the clampingmembers may be pried out if it is desired to reupholster the springstructure. In such case, new wedging or clamping members wouldbepreferred in the reupholstering as they are very economical and arelikely to be distorted in prying them out so as to render themundesirable for a second use.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in embodiments which Ihave found very satisfactorq I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe various modifications or adaptations as it is believed thatthis disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adaptmy improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. In a cushion structure the combination of a border frame having anupholstery receiving channel, the maximum dimension of which exceeds theentrance thereto, upholstery having a portion thereof disposed withinsaid channel, and deformable clamping members disposed Within saidchannel whereby they are deformed in one dimension to clamp theupholstery within the channel, said clamping members prior to thedeforming thereof being of non-split tubular section and flattened toexpand them in the clamping position within the channel.

, 2..In a cushion structure the combination of a border frame having anupholstery receiving channel, the maximum dimension of which exceeds theentrance thereto, upholstery having a portion thereof disposed withinsaid channel, and deformable clamping members disposed within saidchannel whereby they aredeformed in one dimension to clamp theupholstery within the channed, said clamping members prior to thedeforming thereof being of tubular section and flattened to expand themin the clamping position within the channel.

VITO ASARO.

